Button focused on improving qualifying performance

Jenson Button says McLaren must improve its qualifying performances if it is to collect a good result at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Button has yet to make it through to Q2 this season and believes that the nature of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya means that grid positions will be vital platform to build upon in the race.

"It's a great place to kick off the European season and a fun circuit to race on, with long straights, high-speed corners and tricky chicanes that require you to get the most out of the car throughout the whole lap," said Button.

"It really challenges the car and you need good balance and aerodynamic downforce to get the best consistency, and, ultimately, performance.

"It’s difficult to overtake there, so we’ll be working on our qualifying performance from the outset to try and push us up the pecking order."

Button added that improving the reliability of the Honda-powered MP4-30 is also crucial, after the Briton endured a torrid weekend in Bahrain.

"We’ve made good strides over the past few races, and that effort has continued right through the break between Bahrain and Spain, so I’m excited to see where we are and work with my engineers to keep pushing the boundaries of our previous performances at every opportunity," he said.

"The key to all of this, though, is reliability, and that’s the most important element if we are to really push our package to its limits from Spain onwards."